Evaluation of Salusin-α and Salusin-β Levels in Human Saliva Samples from Patients with Gingivitis and Periodontitis: A Cross-Sectional Study

<b>Background</b>: Gingivitis and periodontitis are progressive inflammatory diseases affecting the tissues surrounding the teeth; gingivitis involves reversible gingival inflammation, whereas periodontitis is a more advanced condition characterized by irreversible tissue destruction, including clinical attachment and alveolar bone loss. Salusin-α and salusin-β are inflammation-related polypeptides that may reflect periodontal inflammatory burden; however, salivary data in periodontal diseases are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the salivary salusin-α and salusin-β levels in individuals with gingivitis and periodontitis. <b>Methods</b>: Saliva samples were collected from a total of 80 systemically healthy non-smoker individuals classified into three groups: gingivitis (<i>n</i> = 27), stage III grade B periodontitis (<i>n</i> = 27), and healthy participant (<i>n</i> = 26) based on the 2017 Periodontal Classification criteria. Salusin-α and salusin-β levels in saliva were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Statistical analysis utilized one-way ANOVA, Student's <i>t</i>-test, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. <b>Results</b>: Compared to the healthy group, salivary levels of salusin-α and salusin-β were found to be significantly elevated in periodontitis groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05), not gingivitis (<i>p</i> > 0.05); moreover, the increase in both markers was significantly greater in the periodontitis group than in the gingivitis group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Conclusions</b>: Our finding suggests that salusins play a role in the inflammatory processes of periodontal diseases. The increase in salusin-α and salusin-β levels in the periodontitis suggests that these parameters may serve as biomarkers.